Harvard restarts scientific research
Harvard researchers take selfies on their first day back in the lab since the COVID-19 shutdown. The Manning Lab marks the occasion with coordinated signs. Photo courtesy of the Manning Lab Close to 2,000 faculty and staff from the FAS Division of Science and the John E. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) returned to their labs after nearly three months this week, marking a new phase in a gradual effort to resume scientific research in everything from the laws of physics and quantum science to using gene regulation to find therapeutics for cancers like leukemia. The reopening from the COVID-19 scale-down started June 8. “It’s brought a lot of optimism,” said Conor Walsh, the Paul A. Maeder Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences and principal investigator at the Harvard Biodesign Lab. “People feel good that we’ve put together conservative plans that have allowed them to limit interactions, limit...